Iranian state television has reported that during military maneuvers in the Iranian desert this morning, the Iranian army had tested their Shihab-3 ballistic surface-to-surface missiles capable of carrying a nuclear warhead.
The Shihab-3 missile, which has a range of 2,000 kilometers (1,242 miles), can reach Israel as well as US military forces stationed in the Middle East.
The report indicated that the maneuvers will be conducted by the elite Revolutionary Guards and will last 10 days through November 11. The report added that the maneuvers will take place mainly in the Persian Gulf and the Sea of Oman and is designed to show off Iran’s defensive strength.
A source within the Revolutionary Guard said that the drills pose no threats to neighboring countries.
Despite these words, the maneuvers come only two days after a massive naval exercise in the Persian Gulf led by American forces designed to train international naval forces to interdict smuggling and shipping of nuclear weapons and other materials.
The report also indicates that among the other weapons tested during the maneuvers was the Shahab-2, which Iran says has a cluster warhead that can send 1,400 “bomblets” at the same time. Solid-fuel Zalzal missiles and guided missiles were also launched, as well as Scud-B, Zolfaghar-73 and Z-3.